Green synthesized silver nanoparticles using Cyperus rotundus L. extract as a potential antiviral agent against infectious laryngotracheitis and infectious bronchitis viruses in chickens

One-Pot Synthesis and Characterization of Naringenin-Capped Silver Nanoparticles with Enhanced Biological Activities

Flavonoids are known to possess biological effects like anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties. Similarly, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely used in the biomedical industry for therapy and diagnostics for a long time. This study investigates the potential of naringenin functionalized silver nanoparticles (AgN NPs) as a potential wound healing agent. The synthesis of AgN NPs was carried out using the one-pot synthesis method in the alkaline pH. Naringenin is used as the capping and the reducing agent. The naringenin-capped AgNPs were synthesized in six different concentrations. The structural, morphological, and spectroscopic characterization for each sample was conducted. The size of the nanoparticles was studied using the dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiment and further confirmed using TEM. The crystalline structure was investigated using X-ray diffraction, and AgN NPs exhibited a fcc crystal structure. The FTIR confirmed the capping of naringenin on AgNPs. All samples were tested for antibacterial activity, and the results demonstrated zones of inhibition against both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Also, AgN NPs exhibited dose-dependent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties. The wound healing potential of AgN NPs was evaluated using a scratch wound assay in L929 cell lines. After 24 h, the scratch area was significantly reduced in the AgN NPs-treated sample, indicating enhanced cell migration compared to naringenin. Hence, these findings suggest that AgN NPs may serve as a more promising wound-healing agent than naringenin.

Combining single-cell RNA sequencing and network pharmacology to explore the target of cangfu daotan decoction in the treatment of obese polycystic ovary syndrome from an immune perspective

Background

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous gynecological endocrine disorder linked to immunity. Cangfu Daotan Decoction (CFDT), a classic Chinese medicine prescription, is particularly effective in treating PCOS, specifically in patients with obesity; however, its specific mechanism remains unclear.

Methods

Part 1: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected on egg retrieval day from obese and normal-weight patients with PCOS and healthy women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer. Next, scRNA-seq was performed to screen the key genes of bese patients with PCOS. Part 2: Active ingredients of CFDT and obesity-related PCOS targets were identified based on public databases, and the binding ability between the active ingredients and targets was analyzed. Part 3: This part was a monocentric, randomized controlled trial. The obese women with PCOS were randomized to CFDT (6 packets/day) or placebo, and the healthy women were included in the blank control group (43 cases per group). The clinical manifestations and laboratory outcomes among the three groups were compared.

Results

Based on the scRNA-seq data from Part 1, CYLD, ARPC3, CXCR4, RORA, JUN, FGL2, ZEB2, GNLY, FTL, SMAD3, IL7R, KIR2DL1, CTSD, BTG2, CCL5, HLA, RETN, CTSZ, and NCF2 were potential key genes associated with obese PCOS were identified. The proportions of T, B, and natural killer cells were higher in patients with PCOS compared to healthy women, with even higher proportions observed in obese patients with PCOS. Gene ontology and the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis depicted that the differentially expressed genes were related to immune regulation pathways. Network pharmacology analysis identified that the key active components in CFDT were quercetin, carvacrol, β-sitosterol, cholesterol, and nobiletin, and TP53, AKT1, STAT3, JUN, SRC, etc. were the core targets. The core targets and their enrichment pathways overlapped with those in Part 1. Clinical trials in Part 3 found that CFDT reduced the dosage of gonadotropins use in patients with PCOS, increased the number of high-quality embryos, and improved the ongoing pregnancy rate.

Conclusion

CFDT can improve the immune microenvironment of patients to some extent, reduce their economic burden, and enhance IVF outcomes. The improvement in the immune microenvironment in obese patients with PCOS may be linked to targets such as JUN and AKT.

Eco-friendly lignin nanoparticles as antioxidant and antimicrobial material for enhanced textile production

Natural polymers are bioactive compounds that are used in the treatment of several disorders. Natural lignin, an amorphous polymer, offers significant potential for use as a building block in the production of bio-renovation materials. This study used an alkaline solvent technique to extract lignin from two Egyptian cotton cultivar byproducts, Giza 86 and 90. We then created nano-lignin to recycle cotton stalks into an environmentally beneficial product. The characterization of L86, L90, LNP86, and LNP90 was carried out using particle size, zeta potential, FT-IR, and TEM. Antioxidant activity using the DPPH assay and antimicrobial activity were determined for lignin and nano-lignin. Seven pathogenic bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus sciuri, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and five mycotoxigenic fungi (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium proliferatum and Penicillium verrucosum) were used for antimicrobial activity. The results showed high antioxidant efficiency for LNP90, with an IC50 of 10.38 µg/mL. The antimicrobial activity showed positive growth inhibition for all studied microorganisms, with significant differences in nano-lignin compared to ordinary lignin. lignin and nano-lignin were effectively applied to treated textiles for medical purposes. The study concluded that single-use medical textiles with anti-microbial and anti-oxidant properties, made from lignin and nano-lignin, could benefit patients intolerant to antibiotics.

Innovative textiles treated with TiO2-AgNPs with succinic acid as a cross-linking agent for medical uses

Silver and titanium-silver nanoparticles have unique properties that make the textile industry progress through the high quality of textiles. Preparation of AgNPs and TiO2-Ag core-shell nanoparticles in different concentrations (0.01% and 0.1% OWF) and applying it to cotton fabrics (Giza 88 and Giza 94) by using succinic acid 5%/SHP as a cross-linking agent. Ultra-violet visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) are tools for AgNPs and TiO2-AgNPs characterization and the treated cotton. The resulting AgNPs and TiO2-AgNPs were added to cotton fabrics at different concentrations. The antimicrobial activities, UV protection, self-cleaning, and the treated fabrics' mechanical characteristics were investigated. Silver nanoparticles and titanium dioxide-silver nanoparticles core-shell were prepared to be used in the treatment of cotton fabrics to improve their UV protection properties, self-cleaning, elongation and strength, as well as the antimicrobial activities to use the produced textiles for medical and laboratory uses and to increase protection for medical workers taking into account the spread of infection. The results demonstrated that a suitable distribution of prepared AgNPs supported the spherical form. Additionally, AgNPs and TiO2-AgNPs have both achieved stability, with values of (- 20.8 mV and - 30 mV, respectively). The synthesized nanoparticles spread and penetrated textiles' surfaces with efficiency. The findings demonstrated the superior UV protection value (UPF 50+) and self-cleaning capabilities of AgNPs and TiO2-AgNPs. In the treatment with 0.01% AgNPs and TiO2-AgNPs, the tensile strength dropped, but the mechanical characteristics were enhanced by raising the concentration to 0.1%. The results of this investigation demonstrated that the cotton fabric treated with TiO2-AgNPs exhibited superior general characteristics when compared to the sample treated only with AgNPs.

Green synthesized silver nanoparticles for the treatment of diabetes and the related complications of hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress in diabetic rats

This study was conducted to compare the impact of cinnamon silver nanoparticles (C-Ag-NPs) and cinnamon aqueous extract (CAE) on the total body weight (TBW), body weight gain (BWG), blood count (BC), fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), low-density (LDL-C) and high-density (HDL-C) lipoprotein cholesterol, liver function enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) of normal and streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. The CAE was administered to rats at different doses (50.0 and 100.0 mg/kg bw), whereas the C-Ag-NPs were ingested at doses of 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg bw for 30 days. At the end of the experiment, the administration of high or low dosages of CAE or C-Ag-NPs to diabetic rats significantly reduced the FBG, TC, TG, and LDL-C and significantly increased the HDL-C compared with the diabetic control rats. The highest dose (50.0 mg/kg bw) of the C-Ag-NPs was the most efficient at significantly reducing (P < 0.05) the levels of all the analyzed parameters compared with the CAE. However, the treated and normal rats did not show any hypoglycemic activity after ingesting the CAE or C-Ag-NPs. Such effects were associated with considerable increases in their BWG. The diabetic rats that ingested the CAE or C-Ag-NPs showed a gradual decrease in their FBG, TC, LDL, and TG levels, but they were still higher than those in the normal rats. Furthermore, the C-Ag-NPs and CAE considerably enhanced the hepatic (GPT, GOT, ALP, and GGT) and antioxidant biomarker enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, and GPx) in diabetic rats. Relative to the untreated diabetic control, the C-Ag-NPs were more effective than the CAE in the diabetic rats. The C-Ag-NPs exhibited a protective role against hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in the diabetic rats and modulated their liver function enzyme biomarkers and antioxidant enzyme activities more than the CAE.

Nano-antivirals: A comprehensive review

Nanoparticles can be used as inhibitory agents against various microorganisms, including bacteria, algae, archaea, fungi, and a huge class of viruses. The mechanism of action includes inhibiting the function of the cell membrane/stopping the synthesis of the cell membrane, disturbing the transduction of energy, producing toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inhibiting or reducing RNA and DNA production. Various nanomaterials, including different metallic, silicon, and carbon-based nanomaterials and nanoarchitectures, have been successfully used against different viruses. Recent research strongly agrees that these nanoarchitecture-based virucidal materials (nano-antivirals) have shown activity in the solid state. Therefore, they are very useful in the development of several products, such as fabric and high-touch surfaces. This review thoroughly and critically identifies recently developed nano-antivirals and their products, nano-antiviral deposition methods on various substrates, and possible mechanisms of action. By considering the commercial viability of nano-antivirals, recommendations are made to develop scalable and sustainable nano-antiviral products with contact-killing properties.